Dorian Moving Towards Open Waters, Florida Under State Of Emergency

Posted
The 5 PM advisory on Hurricane Dorian
(National Hurricane Center)

UPDATE (08-28-19): Governor Ron DeSantis has now declared a State of Emergency for Florida in preparation for Hurricane Dorian.

By declaring a state of emergency, Governor DeSantis is ensuring that state and local governments have ample time, resources and flexibility to prepare. The State Emergency Operations Center will activate to a Level 2 on Thursday morning, enhancing the coordination between federal, state and local emergency management agencies.

“Today, I am declaring a state of emergency to ensure Florida is fully prepared for Hurricane Dorian,” said Governor DeSantis. “It’s important for Floridians on the East Coast to monitor this storm closely. Every Florida resident should have seven days of supplies, including food, water and medicine, and should have a plan in case of disaster. I will continue to monitor Hurricane Dorian closely with emergency management officials. The state stands ready to support all counties along the coast as they prepare.”

Earlier reporting below.

Daytona Beach, FL - The National Hurricane Center's latest update now puts Dorian past Puerto Rico and near open Atlantic waters where it's expected to strengthen to a Category 3 storm by Saturday.

The 5 p.m. AST (Atlantic Standard Time) advisory shows that Dorian, which has now been classified as a Category 1 Hurricane, is moving northwest at 14 mph.

On that forecast track, Dorian is expected to move near or over the U.S. and British Virgin Islands during the next several hours and then move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern Bahamas on Thursday (August 29th) and Friday (August 30th).

Maximum sustained winds are now hitting 80 mph with higher gusts. Dorian is forecast to strengthen and become a powerful hurricane during the next few days over the Atlantic waters.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.

The NHC says that the risk of storm surge and hurricane-force winds continues to increase later this week and into the weekend. While it's still too soon to determine where the hazards will occue, the NHC is urging residents to prepare a hurricane plan and not focus on the exact forecast track of Dorian's center.

Heavy rains are expected to hit over portions of the Bahamas, Florida and elsewhere in the southeast United States later this week and early into next week.

News Daytona Beach will monitor the tropics and provide updates as soon as possible when they’re available.

Text STORM to 51879 for the latest reports regarding Hurricane Dorian.

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